Milwaukee city leaders want to purchase electricity from someone other than We Energies.

City Sustainability Director Matt Howard told WISN 12 News that the city is looking to purchase energy from the free market and save on it's current annual We Energies bill of $16.7 million..

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"We would have lower bills on our electricity, our heat," he said. "Moving forward, those savings are passed on to the taxpayers."

A city committee approved a motion to create an energy independence panel that would research the city's options.

We Energies said that the city of Milwaukee would need to determine its best options for taxpayers, but said it is unlikely the city could generate its own electricity at a cost that would be competitive with the utility.